How to Overcome Writer's Block (2/3)
MY 6 TOP TIPS TO OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK
However seasoned or experienced, most writers will suffer from writer's block at some point.
In this second instalment of a three-part series, you'll learn my firs 6 of 12 exercises to help your creative juices flow again.
The beauty of these exercises is that they don't have to be permanent decisions in your writing; they're simply quick, effective prompts to get you back into the writerly flow and to rebuild your confidence in your ability to write!
“The surefire way to get rid of writer's block is to just write! You can always erase it afterwards! Writing something is always better than nothing!”
TIP 1: RECONTEXTUALISE YOUR CHARACTERS
Write 500+ words about your character in an entirely different context. Force them into new, uncharted territories to experience the kinds of people/situations you’d never consider for them.
What would happen, for example, if your Ancient Greek goddess worked an office job for a day, or if your murder-mystery detective had a holiday in the Bahamas? Ask yourself:
What new challenges would they face?
What would they learn about themselves in their new roles?
And, more importantly, what would you learn about them?
Such discoveries, however minute, can uncover:
personality traits you hadn't considered.
inspirations for their next scenarios.
new fears and ambitions.
new skills or methods of reasoning.
TIP 2: A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW
Rewrite a section from a different perspective.
How does your antagonist interpret events? What about a side character, an innocent bystander, the pet goldfish, or even an inanimate object in the room?
Experiment with switching up your narrative voice and form.
Choose a different voice — first-person, third-person, etc.
Choose a different form — newspaper article, letter, personal diary entry, police report, etc.
With this tip, you don't have to come up with new material; just find different ways to express the material you already have. This way, you'll help yourself to recall the physical art and practice of writing itself and to put it back into motion.
TIP 3: BLOW SOMETHING UP
Maybe it's not writer's block you're suffering from… maybe it's just that the story itself is losing your interest: it's predictable, static, monotonous.
In this case, add some drama to the mix! Make a fire start somewhere, abduct someone's child, call for an alien attack, send someone to A&E… — all in your story, I mean! Not in real life!
Otherwise, try something far less extreme: a random emotion or memory is triggered out of nowhere for your character, unleashing a new direction for them…or they stub their toe off the bedframe, and it’s the final straw — they completely lose it!
Whatever you choose, make some drama, some conflict, some tension. Spice things up a bit, and see what happens and how your characters react.
TIP 4: PAREIDOLIA
Pareidolia is the human propensity to notice patterns, forms, shapes and faces when they aren't actually there.
To overcome writer's block, allow your subconscious to find inspiration in these faces and forms for you: look to the clouds. See what you can identify in them, what repeated patterns you can make out, and use them to inspire what happens next. A sword, for instance, could signify an actual medieval battle, or it could signify a rift between two honeymooners.
The same process applies to doodling, stargazing, forest-walking, portrait admiring… See what you find in your mind’s eye, beyond what’s really there.
TIP 5: AUTOMATIC WRITING
What's the best advice I have for a writer suffering from writer's block? "Write, write, write!", of course!
To practice this tip is to pour out the subconscious by writing with no self-censorship and no inhibitions. Allow whatever's lurking in your mind's recesses to bloom on through and reveal itself upon the page.
Your first few attempts might be “awful”, i.e. they might be uninspiring gibberish or rambling — especially when deep in the ditches of writer’s block — but it’s not about making something beautiful; it’s just about forcing yourself to physically practice writing.
It will force you past that fear of a blank page, and your pen to paper. The more comfortable you get with staring at a blank notebook, the quicker you'll get rid of that writer’s block!
Note: A pen and paper is recommended over typing for this tip, as it allows for more complex cognitive processes and the necessary time to think.
TIP 6: LISTEN TO MUSIC
Music can be an effective tool to block out disruptive background noises or that niggling inner voice reminding you about tonight's household chores or the weekly shopping list.
Punchy or romantic lyrics can inspire actions, characters, moods and events — and the rhythms and melodies of instrumentals can inspire you, too.
Conversely, you can try to find music that works against your writing: see how the tempo clash alters your descriptions. If your creative juices are particularly low, try rewriting sections of your writing with this method — an excellent way to overcome writer's block without having to generate new material.
BONUS TIP: STAY CONNECTED!
It's important to be connected to a network of writers, so make yourself known in the comment section, or tag @25ThistleCorner on any social media platform to get a conversation going! Learn from fellow writers, and share your own wisdom!
6 MORE TIPS TO COME!
Stay tuned! On 12th February, I'll be posting 6 more tips! That's a total of 12 tips to overcome writer's block! (Ooh, 12 on the 12th! How symbolic!) Subscribe to Thistle Corner to be notified when the post is released!
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